Flooring Installation in Toronto & the GTA

Which flooring suits which room?

Each floor has rooms it suits and rooms it doesn't, mostly because of water. Solid hardwood moves with humidity, so its makers keep it off below-grade concrete. Basements, kitchens and bathrooms call for floors that shrug off damp.

Floor	Where it works well	What to watch
Solid hardwood	Main and upper floors	Moves with humidity; not for basements
Engineered wood	Most rooms, basements included	A thin top layer limits refinishing
Laminate	Bedrooms, halls and living rooms	Standing water swells most cores
Vinyl plank	Basements, kitchens and bathrooms	Needs a very flat subfloor
Tile	Bathrooms, entries and kitchens	Cold underfoot; needs a stiff floor

Your quote names the floor by maker and line, the underlay and the trim, the same way it names paint.

Why does the subfloor matter more than the floor?

Because every flooring maker sets out how flat, stiff and dry the subfloor must be, and the warranty on the boards depends on following it. Dips and humps show through thin floors, a springy floor cracks tile, and damp concrete cups or lifts boards.

So the old flooring comes up first, and the subfloor is checked for flatness, squeaks and moisture. Low spots are levelled, loose boards screwed down, and concrete in a basement tested for moisture before anything goes on it.

Replacing a floor isn't on Toronto's list of work that needs a building permit. Work on the structure under it, such as replacing joists, is a structural alteration and does need one.

Could the old floor contain asbestos?

In an older home, it's possible. Health Canada lists floor tiles among the products that may contain asbestos, which was used mainly before 1990. Old vinyl floor tiles, and the adhesive under them, are worth testing before they come up.

Health Canada's advice is to have a professional test materials before renovating, and not to disturb them yourself. If a test finds asbestos, a qualified removal company takes it out before the new floor goes in. Popcorn ceilings and asbestos in Ontario explains how testing works, and asbestos and your health is Health Canada's own guide.

How does a new floor meet the trim and the doors?

Baseboards come off before the old floor comes up. Once the new floor is down, new or reinstalled baseboards go back on and cover the expansion gap that floating floors need at the walls.

Doors are trimmed to clear the new floor height, and transition strips join rooms with different floors. Then the nail holes are filled, the joints caulked and the trim painted, so the room looks finished, not just floored. Our trim and door painting page covers that last step.

What about new flooring in a condo?

Check your building's rules first. Many condos require approval before a floor is changed, and a sound-control underlay that meets a set rating, so the unit below doesn't hear every step. Your property manager can tell you what your building asks for.

Condos also have booking rules for elevators, deliveries and noisy hours. Toronto condo painting rules covers the ones that apply to any job in a building.